touching

[tuhch-ing]

adjective

1. affecting; moving; pathetic.

   a touching scene of farewell.

   Synonyms: piteous, poignant, stirring

2. that touches.

   Synonyms: tangent

preposition

1. in reference or relation to; concerning; about.

   He wrote touching future plans.

touching

/ ˈtʌtʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. evoking or eliciting tender feelings

   your sympathy is touching

preposition

1. on the subject of; relating to

Other Word Forms

• touchingly adverb
• touchingness noun
• untouching adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of touching¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; touch + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The system could let entities subject to sanctions move funds without touching Swift.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I want to be uncomfortable with this stranger touching my face, but there is something about her that seems so familiar.

Read more on Literature

Penelope put down her carpetbag and wiped her hands on her sailor pants before touching the beautiful volume.

Read more on Literature

That in itself is a compliment of sorts to Clarke, who has hauled Scotland out of the international wilderness to be within touching distance of going to USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

Read more on BBC

Falley is an incredibly supportive partner, and when Gibson worries over how she’ll cope after their looming death, it is quite touching.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• heartbreaking 
• pathetic 
• poignant 
• sad 
• stirring 
• stunning 
• wistful